Zechariah

By Mary Jane Chaignot

Zechariah and Haggai were contemporaries, though neither mentions the other. It is believed that Zechariah began his work during the second month of Haggai's four-month ministry and continued for a few years thereafter. They were both dealing with the same political situation, and both were interested in the building of the temple. But that's where the similarity ends. Haggai was very practical-minded and his message was straightforward: build God's house. Zechariah, on the other hand, experienced God through visions. Many of these were interpreted for his benefit by an accompanying angel. Because he was a visionary, a lot of his words are very obscure. Nonetheless, it is the book of Zechariah (among the Minor Prophets) that is most often quoted in the New Testament, so it was well known. And, no doubt, during the times of the New Testament, writers could identify with his message.

There is considerable discussion regarding the unity of this book. The first eight chapters contain specific visions and are generally related to the rebuilding of the temple, but chapters 9-14 are quite different in style and substance. Many scholars have determined these later chapters to be the work of a different author, written perhaps a century or two later. Against this argument is the fact that the earliest surviving manuscript (found among the Dead Sea Scrolls) shows no break between chapters 8 and 9. Like so many other books, regardless of whether or not it began as a unified whole, some later redactor put both sections together on purpose. That editor clearly thought they belonged together.

Like Haggai, Zechariah opens his ministry with prophecies regarding the temple. But unlike Haggai, he seems to have a much greater perspective on what that rebuilding meant. Whereas Haggai predicted Zerubbabel would usher in the messianic age upon the temple's completion, Zechariah's visions were timeless. He saw the restoration of God's people occurring in the very process of building the temple. It wasn't something that would be signified by its completion, but something that was happening stone by stone.

As a result, God becomes more transcendent in this book. No longer does God speak directly through prophets, and no longer do they contend with Him directly (as Habakkuk had done). This God speaks through angels and interpreters. His words are for a future forever. The messianic age that Haggai foresaw approaching in the immediate future is slowed way down. Zechariah had a larger vision of what needed to be done by the people before they should even think about such a thing happening to them. He believed in the need for purification, social justice, and sincerity. Society had to do a lot more to prepare itself for this event. He also took into consideration the fact that many Jews now lived outside of Palestine. And while he embraced them wholeheartedly, the fact that they lived among Gentiles caused some ambivalence regarding the other nations. This is one of the issues addressed in the final chapters of the book.

The people who lived during this latter time were having a different world experience than the one in which Zechariah lived. Even though the Persians were marching toward Egypt during the sixth century, Zechariah was convinced they would not be harmed. It was a semblance of peace – guaranteed as long as they maintained loyalty to Persia. The writer of the second section, however, describes a more tenuous existence. The people were in deep despair. Beset on all sides, they looked to God to save them from destruction, hence the messianic overtones. God's rescue would come amidst cataclysmic upheavals. The overturning that is described in the last chapters is that once-and-for-all, end-of-the-world, apocalyptic vision. And only then will there be peace.

The book is generally divided into two main sections, chapters 1-8 -- Visions and Oracles of Zechariah; 9-14 -- Messianic Future and Realized Eschatology.

I – 1:1-8:23 – Visions and Oracles of Zechariah

1:1

Introduction

October-November 520 BCE

Word of the Lord came to Zechariah

1:2-6

Lessons from the past; A call for repentance

"Return to me and I will return to you"

The Lord had turned away from their covenant-breaking ancestors

They had been warned to turn from their evil ways

They had not listened; and now where are they?

God implores: Do not be like your forefathers; God's words will be fulfilled

Zechariah pleads for wholehearted response to the Lord

1:7-6:8

A series of night visions (Eight in all, Date: February 15, 519 BCE)

1:1-17

First Vision – Horseman Among the Trees

Rider on a red horse, with three other horses behind him

Horsemen are scouts sent by God to patrol the earth

World was at peace, but God heard the cry of Jerusalem

Nations had punished Jerusalem excessively

God will have compassion on Jerusalem; he has not abandoned them

1:18-21

Second Vision – Four Horns

Four horns represent the four nations that had scattered Jerusalem

(Possibly Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome) Four craftsmen were approaching to overthrow the "horns"

Their job is to punish the powers that went beyond

God's limits in dealing with Jerusalem

2:1-13

Third Vision – City with no Walls

2:1-5

Sees a surveyor with a measuring stick

Plan is to measure Jerusalem

City will have huge population and will be protected by God

City will have no need for walls

(Might have been in response to those who worried that they should fix the city walls before working on the temple)

2:6-13

International homecoming for those who had been scattered

Exiles will return from all corners of the world

Gentiles will also join them and become people of God

God will be present in the midst of all of them, embrace all

3:1-10

Fourth Vision – Joshua (current High Priest) and Satan

Courtroom scene – High priest stands before God and Satan

Joshua stands before them in filthy garments

Representative of the suffering people

God states people have suffered enough

Orders angel to clothe Joshua with clean, rich apparel Oracle to Joshua: observe the law and you will rule with authority

Basically people are given a brand new start, past sins are wiped out

4:1-14

Fifth Vision – Lampstand of Pure Gold

Lampstand had a bowl with seven lamps each having seven spouts

Two trees stood one on each side

"Seven" symbolized perfection

God's perfect eyes (lamps) are watching them

Seven spouts might indicate limitless supply of oil

(God's power is unlimited)

Two trees represent the two leaders, Joshua and Zerubbabel

Both will have a role in new government

Purpose of vision was to provide encouragement for completion of temple

Once again, God will supply the Spirit for the work

5:1-4

Sixth Vision – The Flying Scroll

It was thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide (big enough for all to read)

Indication of need for spiritual renewal

Those who break the covenant will continue to suffer

Scroll apparently related to third and eighth commandments

Third: keep holy the Sabbath

Eighth: do not bear false witness

Both are central to the keeping of the covenant

5:5-11

Seventh Vision – Woman in a Basket

Wickedness (personified by a woman) was covered in a basket

Two winged women take basket to Babylon

God takes initiative in removing wickedness from the land

Basket is permanently sealed

Wickedness must be removed, not "managed"

6:1-15

Eighth Vision – Four Chariots

6:1-8

Mission of the four horses

Four horses are different colors, about to set off on worldly mission

Go to the four corners of the earth

Mission is to establish God's peace over the earth

(All these visions still involve building of the temple. Idea seems to be that by rebuilding the temple, the Kingdom of God will be renewed throughout the world.)

6:9-15

Oracle regarding Joshua

Zechariah was to take gold and silver brought by Josiah

Fashion a crown for Joshua (like a coronation)

Then Joshua would crown Zerubbabel

King and Priest together would rule

Only value was symbolic. Persia would not allow a real "king"

7:1-8:14

Sermons of Zechariah -- December 7, 518 BCE

7:1-7

Questions re fasting

Involves fasting in remembrance of destruction of Jerusalem

Does this involve having a pity-party or true repentance?

Fasting should be directed to a spiritual goal not self satisfaction

Ritual without moral integrity is meaningless

7:8-14

Remembering the reasons for the exile

Recalling the past will be understood as warning for the present

Obeying the letter of the law without the spirit

Listed four tests for spiritual reality

Are they administering true justice?

Are they showing mercy and compassion?

Are they oppressing others – widows, poor, or foreigners?

Are they thinking evil?

Ancestors refused to obey these commands, were scattered

It could happen again

8:1-17

Restoration of Israel

Oracle specifying God's blessings

New character for Jerusalem, land of peace, children can play

People will be regathered; God will be their God, they will be his people

Point of all this is to encourage people to keep working on temple

Reasons for past discouragements have passed

8:18-23

Joyful fasts, glad occasions, and happy festivals!

Mourning and their position in the world will be reversed

Not only will they have joy, but they will also be source of blessing for Gentiles

All peoples will go to Jerusalem to participate in worship of one true God

"In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'"

They will see the holiness and godliness of Jews and want to join with them

God's saving work includes all

II – 9:1-14:21 – Messianic Future and Realized Eschatology

9:1-11:17

First Oracle: The Coming of the King

9:1-10:1

Restoration of Davidic Kingdom

9:1-8

Great military campaign

Judgments that will accompany the messianic age

Oracles against various foreign nations

After crushing foreign nations, God will reside by Jerusalem

9:9-10

The Coming of Jerusalem's King

City will rejoice at the advance of its king

"Riding on a colt the foal of an ass"

Weapons will be abandoned in light of peace

Peace will extend throughout the world

Dawning of a new age

9:11-10:1

Deliverance and blessing of the people

Before there can be peace, there must be full deliverance

God is up to the task – prisoners will be freed

Much battle terminology – bow, sword, arrow, trumpet

But God will give them the victory

With deliverance comes blessing

God controls the fields, rain (crops will be plentiful)

10:2-12

Return to the homeland

Warning to the idolatrous leaders

Household gods, diviners are unreliable

God's anger burns against the shepherds for not caring for people

Therefore, he will take care of them himself

"I will have compassion on them…I am the Lord their God"

11:1-17

The rejection by the shepherds

11:1-3

Collapse of the shepherds

Metaphor for collapse of the world's powers

Shepherds will wail because their glory will be spoiled

11:4-14

Rejection of the good shepherd

Earlier shepherds neglected flock, let them flounder

Prophet tries to be good shepherd

Flock scorns him until he puts them out to pasture

Takes two staffs – calls them Grace, Unity

Got rid of other bad shepherds

Flock still didn't appreciate anything good shepherd did

Broke his staff called Grace

Signified end of relationship, asked for his pay (30 pieces of silver)

Broke his staff called Unity

Signified end of brotherhood

11:15-17

Rise of worthless shepherd

People finally get what they deserve

Shepherd who doesn't care about them

(Seems to be metaphor acknowledging that at one time they had bad rulers. But when a good ruler came, the people rejected him. So they got what they deserved – another bad ruler.)

12:1-14-21

Second Oracle: Deliverance of Jerusalem

12:1-13:9

Siege of Jerusalem

12:1-9

Cleansing of foreign invaders

"In that day" there will be an attack against Jerusalem

Unbeknownst to enemies, God will have made city impenetrable

Conquering armies will experience calamities

Victory will go to Judah

Those who attack Judah are really attacking God

12:10-14

Mourning over beloved martyr whom they have "pierced"

(Don't know exactly who this "martyr" is)

God will give them a spirit of compassion

Entire city will mourn, even the very land will mourn

Individual houses will mourn

13:1-9

Beginning of hope – Purification of people, prophets, and leaders

13:1

Inhabitants and house of David will have opportunity to purify themselves

Image of a fountain with continuous flowing water

Clean flowing water is the very symbol of cleansing

13:2-6

Idols, false prophets will be cut out of the land

Prophecy will end because so many did it badly

People would avoid becoming prophets at all costs

Result would be a return to pure faith

13:7-9

False shepherds would also be eliminated

Some sheep would be lost in the process, only 1/3 will survive

Those who survive will be like metal purified by fire -- stronger

They will see the day when God claims them as his people

14:1-21

Return of the Messiah – Apocalyptic Finale

Apocalypse puts Jerusalem at center of world history

Before God can appear in all His glory, earth must go through birth pangs

14:1-2

Conflict gathers around Jerusalem

ations of the world have united to destroy it

14:3-15

The Lord enters the battle

As the divine warrior (the Messiah), He will deliver His people

Cosmic upheavals turn tide

Victory will go to Jerusalem

The Lord will establish His kingdom over the whole world

Israel's enemies will be punished

14:16-21

Survivors will come to know the Lord

They will come to Jerusalem to participate in worship

The characterization of the messianic kingdom will be in holiness

All uncleanness will be removed; all will be clean

There will be no distinction between clean and unclean

People will have a new sense of God's presence, power

Zechariah ends his book with attention towards proper worship and the role of the priesthood in bringing people to God. In this messianic age, the temple will play a bigger part in the lives of everyone. Knowing that God is in the temple will inform every detail of their lives. In a deep way, this understanding of the temple fulfils Haggai's prophecy that this temple will surpass all others. It might not have the material splendor of Solomon's, but in Zechariah's view it will be spiritually superior because it will assure the people that their entire city is sacred – as well as the world beyond it. Everything will be sacred. This sacred canopy will also extend over Gentiles as they come to the city to worship. From the Jerusalem temple, then, God is reaching out to bless the whole world. God will simply be All in all.